Latest Proposal Looks at Long-Term Solutions
After holding two membership meetings and getting feedback from the membership, the Ventura County Bargaining Committee submitted a counter-proposal to the County’s “last best” proposal on Jan. 8. Previously, the County stated it would not accept a counterproposal from SEIU and had given an arbitrary deadline of Jan. 5 for acceptance of their proposal or they would declare impasse and request a state mediator.
“The County has declared impasse but we believe there are only a few outstanding issues and hopefully they can be resolved through mediation because it is critical that we address long term issues now instead of following the County’s lead,” said Perry Morefield, Ventura County Mental Health Associate and Bargaining Committee Chair.
SEIU 721’s Current Proposal Highlights:
- Helping the County meet its funding retirement obligations in 2010.
- Protect working people and family budgets with no additional costs to the County by giving workers the option of collapsing the 2 Tier COLA and return the 2.63 percent back into worker salaries to offset the shift in pension costs.
- Help the County streamline services and preserve services through a countywide Labor/Management Committee.
- Work together along with pension experts on responsible pension funding solutions for all taxpayers in Ventura County.
SEIU 721’s proposals to work with the County and other unions on long-term pension solutions is fiscally prudent and the countywide Labor/Management committee will also help Ventura taxpayers in the long run.
To view the impact of this proposal,please have a current Ventura County paystub and click here:
Calculator for Impact on Biweekly Net Pay Jan 2010 proposal.xlsLooking Back:
After seven months of negotiations, it is difficult to remember what Ventura members have achieved during bargaining. But here are few highlights:
- SEIU 721 members convinced Ventura County that their original proposal to take $17 million from workers to get $2.2 million to the general fund was a very flawed plan because it would not just harm workers but greatly impact other revenue streams to the County.
- Members demonstrated at Board of Supervisor meetings that the sacrifice must be shared by all including management and we accomplished that.
- Members produced cost saving ideas, revenue suggestions that would help the County and all taxpayers while preserving valuable services and we will continue pursuing opportunities for their implementation.
Next Steps:
Five worksite meetings have been scheduled throughout Ventura County the week of Jan. 11, 2010 to learn more about the proposal and long-term plans. Please plan to attend one.
VCMC/small cafeteria
3291 Loma Vista Rd in Ventura
Monday, Jan. 11 at 12 Noon
Simi Valley Senior Center
2929 Tapo Canyon Rd in Simi Valley
Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 6:00 p.m.
Public Works – Saticoy Yard/Conference Room
11251-B Riverbank Dr in Ventura
Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 5:00 p.m.
Hall of Administration/Courtyard
Wednesday, Jan. 13 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Vanguard Building/Sunrise Room
1400 Vanguard in Oxnard
Thursday, Jan. 14 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Questions:
1. Is the bargaining committee going to try to negotiate the 3% pension shift the county wants to impose on SEIU members?
2. Who initiated discussions (SEIU or County) regarding discontinuing the COLA?
3. Today, on the Board of Supervisor’s website, the Fiscal Year 08-09 comprehensive financial statements are going to be passed by the BOS. Has anyone from SEIU looked at these yet? What is the County’s FINAL net income/loss for fiscal year 2009?
Comments:
1. People, remember, while the discontinuation of the COLA will help eliminate the take home pay loss due to the 3% pension shift, you NEED TO REMEMBER that when you retire, you will NOT get any increases, from year to year, regarding how much you receive, IF you allow this to be discontinued. My view is to NOT discontinue this… it’ll be easier for us to make up the loss now, using other ways to supplement our income, than when we’re MUCH older and retired!
2. Remember that a union is a Democracy. You have a RIGHT to be heard. AND, a union has to follow Robert’s Rules of Order. Accordingly, the union CANNOT bring a meeting to close, only the members can once they have said and asked everything they want to. You have a right to be heard and a right to have your questions answered in clarity.
I look forward to working with everyone to make sure we are treated fairly on ALL sides.
Thank you!
I want to clarify my first question. I’m asking in regards to impasse mediations, if the 3% pension shift will be mentioned and tried to be negotiated.
Sarah,
Bargaining as we knkow it is over. We are at impasse. We will meet with the mediaitor soon.
There was no intiation of Tier II COLA by either side we ask the county retirement executive Tim about what would happen if we closed TIER II COLA
I personally would reinvest half of the Toer II cola back into my 401K because I am also looking out for the future and pocket the difference (whch is not much) but the Tier II Cola from my sources say I have to live til I am 99 to ever see all that I have put into it..
Look forward to seeing you at other meeting that are held and maybe you can become a union steward. There is work to do all year long when it comes to labor. Bargaining is not the only thing that a union does. Please join us we need more active members. I wish you had attending other membership meeting and became a CAT.
of course, the 3% will be discussed, it is the WHOLE reason we went into impasse in the first place.
From what I’ve heard from an SEIU employee, it was not discussed. Why?